WWDA Submissions to Government Consultations and Processes 2016 – 2020

Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA): Violence Against Women and Girls with Disability: Submission to inform the Fourth Action Plan (2019-2022) of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022 and the development of a National Plan beyond 2021 (December 2018) [DOC] [PDF]

This brief Submission has been developed by WWDA as a follow up to consultations conducted around Australia regarding the development of the Fourth Action Plan (2019-2022) ‘Turning the Corner’ of the twelve year National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022. WWDA’s Submission also provides key areas for consideration in the development of any new National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children, post 2021. Copyright WWDA 2018.

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA), Women With Disabilities Victoria (WDV), Women With Disabilities Australian Capital Territory (WWDACT), and Women With Disabilities South Australia (WWDSA): Position Statement to the Productivity Commission for the Review of the National Disability Agreement (October 2018) [DOC] [PDF]

In October 2018, WWDA submitted a Position Statement to the Productivity Commission’s Review of the National Disability Agreement, prepared with and on behalf of Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA), Women With Disabilities Victoria (WDV), Women With Disabilities Australian Capital Territory (WWDACT), and Women With Disabilities South Australia (WWDSA). The Position Statement was developed in order to provide a set of coherent, critical messages that our organisations collectively believe must be understood, and reflected in all aspects of the development and iteration of a new National Disability Agreement (NDA). Copyright WWDA 2018.

In August 2018, WWDA made a submission to the Productivity Commission’s National Disability Agreement Review. The submission from WWDA aimed to highlight key issue areas and themes for consideration by the Productivity Commission for the purposes of the Review. Copyright WWDA 2018.

In July 2017 Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPO Australia) provided a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Quality and Safeguards Commission and Other Measures) Bill 2017. Copyright DPO Australia 2017.

Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) and Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPOA): Civil Society Statement to the Australian Government Calling for a Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse and Neglect of People with Disability (June 2017) [DOC] [PDF]

In June 2017 Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPO Australia) coordinated a civil society statement to The Hon Malcom Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia, calling for the immediate establishment of a Royal Commission into all forms of violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability. The Civil Society Statement was endorsed by over 160 organisations and 383 individuals. The statement was forward to the Prime Minister on 7th June 2017. Copyright WWDA 2017.

Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) and Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPOA): Submission to the Review of Australia Fifth Periodic Report Under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (May 2017) [DOC] [PDF]

DPO Australia has worked with a coalition of Australian non-government organisations to prepare a report to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This report will assist the Committee to review Australia’s progress in achieving economic, social and cultural rights for people in Australia. This review took place at the UN at the end of May 2017. Copyright DPO Australia 2017.

Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) and Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPOA): Submission to Senate Inquiry Into the Delivery of Outcomes Under the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 (May 2017) [DOC] [PDF]

In April 2017 Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPO Australia) welcomed the opportunity to provide a submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee inquiry into the delivery of outcomes under the National Disability Strategy 2010-2010 (NDS) to build inclusive and accessible communities. The NDS is the principal national strategic plan, agreed by all Australian governments, to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). DPO Australia believe that The NDS is critical to the realisation of the human rights of people with disability in Australia. Copyright DPO Australia 2017.

Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA): Submission to the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Study on the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Girls with Disabilities (May 2017) [DOC] [PDF]

In preparation for her report to the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Catalina Devandas Aguilar, conducted a global study on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls with disabilities. WWDA made a brief submission to the study, incorporating content from WWDA’s recent National Forum for Women and Girls with Disability, WWDA’s Human Rights Toolkit, and WWDA’s Position Statements on key human rights issues for women and girls with disabilities. Copyright WWDA 2017.

In March 2017 Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPO Australia) welcomed the opportunity to make a submission to the Productivity Commission inquiry into the ongoing cost and sustainability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Copyright DPO Australia 2016.

In March 2017 DPO Australia made a brief submission to the Budget Saving (Omnibus) Bill 2017 recommending that the bill be rejected by parliament. Copyright DPO Australia 2017.

Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) and Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPOA): Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Its Causes and Consequences: Country Visit to Australia (January 2017) [PDF] [DOC]

In January 2o17 WWDA prepared a submission on behalf of DPOA, to the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Dubravka Šimonović. The submission was written to assist with informing the Special Rapporteur’s official visit to Australia from 13 to 27 February 2017. In addition, WWDA met with the Special Rapporteur in Hobart, Tasmania, to discuss the particular situation of Australian women and girls with disability and the multiple, systemic and intersectional forms of violence and discrimination they experience. Copyright WWDA 2016.

In October 2016 Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPOA) made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Savings Fund Special Account Bill 2016. Copyright DPO Australia 2016.

In late April 2016 the Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA) made a brief submission to the National Disability Insurance Agency’s NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Commissioning Framework consultation. The purpose of the ILC Commissioning Framework is to translate the ILC Policy Framework into measurable and achievable outcomes for people who currently or will access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). In the submission, the ACDA provided general comments on the ILC Consultation Paper draft and provided specific feedback on outcomes and measures that could inform the implementation of the ILC framework. Copyright ACDA 2016.

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) and Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA):ACDA Submission to Senate Inquiry into Indefinite Detention of People with Cognitive and Psychiatric Impairment in Australia (April 2016) [DOC] [PDF]

In late April 2016 the Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA) made a submission to Senate Affairs References Committee Inquiry into Indefinite Detention of People with Cognitive and Psychiatric Impairment in Australia. The submission provides an overview of the circumstances leading to and consequences of indefinite detention of people with cognitive and psychosocial disability in Australia. In doing so it uses information previously published in Disability Rights Now, the civil society report on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), 2012. Disability Rights Now was compiled from consultations with people with disability and their representative and advocacy organisations, evidence from government and community initiated inquiries, and various reports and submissions produced by civil society involved in the protection and promotion of human rights for people with disability. It was primarily drafted by eight DPOs and disability advocacy organisations and received over eighty endorsements. Copyright ACDA 2016.

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) and Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA): Submission to Senate Inquiry into the “Impact on service quality, efficiency and sustainability of recent Commonwealth community service tendering processes by the Department of Social Services” (March 2016) [PDF] [DOC]

In March 2016 the Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA) made a brief submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee Inquiry into the “Impact on service quality, efficiency and sustainability of recent Commonwealth community service tendering processes by the Department of Social Services”. The ACDA submission gave a brief background and context to the history and evidence base underlying the need for reform of the Australian Government’s national disability peak representation model and funding arrangements. Copyright ACDA 2016.

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) and Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA): ACDA Submission to CRPD Committee 14th Session – Right of Persons with Disabilities to Live Independently and be Included in the Community (March 2016) [PDF] [DOC]

In February 2016 the Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA) made a submission to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) Committee 14th Session ‘Day of General Discussion (DGD) on the right of persons with disabilities to live independently and be included in the community’. Written by Carolyn Frohmader with input from Alliance members, the submission focused on the recent national Senate Inquiry conducted in Australia into ‘Violence, Abuse and Neglect against People with Disability in Institutional and Residential Settings’ – including the gender and age related dimensions, and the particular situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, and culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability. The incarceration of people with disability in institutional and residential settings – where they are exposed to and experience multiple forms of violence – violates a myriad of human rights, including the right of persons with disabilities to live independently and be included in the community (CRPD Article 19). The recent Australian Senate Inquiry and its findings, offered a relevant and timely contribution to the CRPD Committee’s work on Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Copyright ACDA 2016.